How to Create a Break Message on Break Message

Updated

To create a break message on breakmessage.com, type your message and a return time into the two fields, pick a display mode, and the page shows a full-screen notice telling everyone when you'll be back. You end the break by double-clicking or pressing X. No account or setup is described on the site, so this works as a single-page tool you open in a browser.

What the tool does

Break Message is a browser-based page for displaying a "break message" — a notice that tells anyone passing by your screen when you'll be back. The page shows a Message field, a Return time field, and a Mode selector, plus optional color and background-image controls.

Step by step

1. Enter your message

Type what you want people to see into the Message field. The site's own example is Example for 12:34, so a short line like "Back at 12:34" or "On break — back soon" fits the format.

2. Enter your return time

Put the time you'll be back in the Return time field. The site notes that the resume time is parsed by your browser, so what it accepts depends on your browser's brand. In practice:

  • 24-hour (military) time in your local time zone works in essentially any browser.
  • UTC works if you add a Z after the time.

The site's example value is 6:54:32.

3. Choose a display mode

Use the Mode selector to pick how the message appears. The available options listed on the page are:

  • Window
  • Fullscreen
  • Popup

4. Customize the look (optional)

The page includes controls for:

  • Colors — adjust the message's color scheme.
  • Background image — choose None, a URL, or a File. For a file, you can click to select it or drag it onto the drop area.
  • Size — set the background image size.

5. Start the break

Once the message, return time, and mode are set, the page displays your break notice so anyone at the screen can see it.

6. End the break

To stop showing the message, either double-click or press X. The page also lists F as the shortcut to toggle full-screen mode.

Shortcuts at a glance

Key / action What it does
Double-click or X End the break
F Toggle full-screen mode

Common snags

  • Time not accepted: If your return time is rejected, switch to 24-hour local time, or append Z to use UTC. The site explicitly warns that parsing depends on your browser.
  • Background image not showing: Check that you picked the right source — None, URL, or File — and that a URL is reachable or the file was actually selected or dropped in.
  • Can't exit full screen: Use F to toggle full-screen mode, or double-click / press X to end the break entirely.

The page is credited to Daniel Martin (2022–2024), and the site invites suggestions or complaints by email.